Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

i82 HISTORY OF PERSIA CHAP.
fine, virile race, ready as occasion may serve to raid, to fight,
or to shoot the ibex or wild sheep, and rendered by their
environment and circumstances absolutely hardy and tire-
less.
It is reasonable to suppose that the Medes and Persians
to a great extent led a similar life ; and, inasmuch as the
climatic and social conditions have not materially changed,
we cannot go far wrong if we assume that they were just
such a free, warlike, manly race as are the nomads to-day,
some of whom at any rate are their descendants. This
view of their character was held by the Greeks themselves ;
and,
if the Greeks won deathless fame in their defence of
Hellas, surely some share of it was earned by the gallant
Persians, who, in spite of inferior weapons and armour,
attempted at Plataea to break the spear-shafts of the
Greeks and so force a way in, regardless of their lives.
Customs ,— Virility, expressed in valour and is
energy,
the best stock on which to graft other virtues, and the
ancient Persians were taught more especially '' to ride, to
draw the bow, and to speak the truth." They were also
careful to avoid incurring debt and were generous and
hospitable. They regarded buying and selling
in the
market-place as ignoble ; and even to-day no Persian of
position will condescend to enter a shop.
Against these good qualities must be set ofF a lack of
self-control, whether in
prosperity or adversity, intense
is common
vanity, and a love of luxury, which, however,
to all prosperous nations alike. As a race they were, and
are, remarkable for keenness of perception, for smart re
partee and for humour, sometimes of a very subtle kind
Persians have apparently ever been lavish in their ex
penditure, particularly upon their food ; and it is curiou
to read in Herodotus that they ate various kinds of desser
before the main meal was served,
custom at the present day. The magnificence of thei
for this is still their
will be referred to in connexion with the life o:
banquets
their monarchs.
Like the Greeks and the Scythians, Persians we
devoted to the wine cup, and Herodotus states that the
deliberated on an important question when intoxicated in